REU: Fitness and Gene Flow in a Polymorphic Alpine Plant

在开花植物中，繁殖成功与否不仅取决于个体自身果实中产生的种子数量，还取决于其他植物果实中产生的种子数量。生殖的第二个组成部分被称为“雄性生殖成功”，因为它反映了植物将花粉或雄性配子传播给种群中其他可接受个体的能力。很少有研究测量过自然植物种群中的雄性繁殖成功率。因此，我们对使某些人比其他人更成功的男性父母的特征知之甚少。这个问题对我们理解植物种群中花性状和功能性性别比例的进化至关重要。提出的研究将使用蛋白质标记（同工酶）来监测高山植物Polemonium viscosum实验种群的父系关系。通过这种方式，可以确定雄性繁殖成功是否受到该物种的花大小、花粉产量和花蜜产量的广泛变化的影响。本研究对作物改良和管理具有重要意义。首先，我们防止相关杂草种群花粉污染作物种子的能力取决于我们对控制花粉捐赠因素的了解。其次，如果这些改良基因与其他增强父系成功的基因相关联，那么在作物种群中传播有价值的遗传改良是最容易实现的。第三，在果园或种子作物林分中引入优质的花粉供体可以在经济成本低且不破坏环境的情况下提高产量。拟议的研究将为实现这些目标提供基本信息。

In flowering plants reproductive success is measured not only by the number of seeds produced in an individual's own fruits, but also by the number of seeds sired in fruits of other plants. This second component of reproduction has been coined, " male reproductive success," because it reflects a plant's ability to disperse pollen or male gametes to other receptive individuals in the population. Few studies have measured male reproductive success in natural plant populations. Consequently, we know very little about the characteristics that make certain individuals more successful male parents than others. This issue is central to our understanding of the evolution of floral traits and functional sex ratios in plant populations. The proposed research will use protein markers (isoenzymes) to monitor paternity in experimental populations of the alpine plant, Polemonium viscosum. In this way it can be determined whether male reproductive success is influenced by extensive variation in flower size, pollen production and nectar production in this species. The proposed research has important implications for crop improvement and management. First, our ability to prevent contamination of crop seed by pollen of related weed populations depends on our knowledge of factors controlling pollen donation. Next, spread of valuable genetic improvements through crop populations can be accomplished most readily if genes for such improvements are associated with others enhancing paternal success. Third, introducing superior pollen donors into stands of orchard or seed crops should improve yield with little economic cost and no environmental damage. The proposed research will provide information basic to reaching these goals.